Cooling-mixture-conserving means for gas-engines.



. 1. T. McCORKLE. COOLING MIXTURE CONSERVING MEANS FOR GAS ENGINES. APPucATloN FILED MAR. n. 1916.

1,250,91 2. Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

Ed I

to N 3 lNl/E/VTOR WITNESS JAMES '1. MQCORKLE, 01: PUEBLO, COLORADO.

COOLING-MIXTURE-GONSERVING MEANS FOR GAS-ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 18, 1917.

Application filed March 11, 1916. Serial No. 88,482.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of means for avoiding losses of the'cooling mixture of an automoblle engine at those times when sudden expansion or boiling of the mixture takes place, and my invention will be found to be of especial advantage for use during those periods of the year when anti-freezing compound is added to the cooling liquid. A further object of my invention is the provision of a construction by which, when a dangerous heating of the system occurs through clogging or other causes, the driver will be apprised of this condition and, in excessive cases, the engine will be so choked as to stop. Further and more detailed objects and advantages of my invention will later appear in this specification.

The foregoing objects are obtained by the addition to the usual water cooled gas engine installation of an auxiliary or overflow chamber connected by a pipe with the space in the radiator above the normal water level thereof, which pipe discharges into the top of said over-flow chamber, and the omission from said installation of the customary over-flow pipe. A connection from the bottom of the over-flow chamber is provided for returning to the circulating system any moisture in liquid form which passes over into said chamber. A pipe leading from the top of the over-flow chamber furnishes a means for escape of steam which passes over into the same. This pipe discharges into the intake of the carbureter and in the preferred form of the invention shown in the drawings before passing to said carbureter this pipe is coiled around the exhaust of said-engine to heat its contents.

In the single sheet of drawings accompanying this application, the single view is a partial side elevation and partial vertical section of an automobile power plant to which my invention has been applied.

Referring more particularly to the single figure of the drawings: 2 indicates the radiator of the cooling system. In the top of the radiator, above the normal water level thereof, there opens a pipe 3 which is provided with a connection 4 communicating with a short section 5 which discharges downwardly into the top of the over-flow chamber 1. This chamber may be located at any convenient place, either on the rear of the dash, as shown, or on the front thereof, and is preferably placed at an elevation abovethe engine, so as to tend to discharge any fluid, entering the same, back intothe system by gravity. Return communication, between the over-flow chamber 1 and the cooling medium circulating system, is afforded by a pipe 6, which leads from the bottomof the chamber 1 to any convenient part of said circulating system as 8 and in which pipe there is a check valve 7 which operates to permit liquid to pass into the circulating system but prevents it passing in the opposite direction. A pipe 10 leads from the top of the expansion or over-flow chamber 1, and, as shown in the drawings, is preferably coiled around the exhaust manifold 12 and then leads into the intake 13 of the.

carbureter, to which it is secured by a suitable clip 14:. While not essential to the operation of my invention, I prefer to provide the pipe 10 with a liquid trap 11 connected thereto by passages 11 and a clip 11 and provided with a pet cock for the discharge of any liquid trapped therein.

It will be understood that when my device is employed the customary over-flow pipe of the radiator is dispensed with. The conservation of the moisture and the operation of my device will also be facilitated by tightly closing the filling opening of the radiator with the customary cap so that no steam will escape at that point.

The operation of my invention will be apparent from the above description of parts. Theradiator 2 being filled to a point below 7 the intake end of the. pipe 3 no water will normally stand within the chamber 1. If, however, sudden expansion, boiling or splashing of the liquid within the radiator 2 takes place, the pressure caused thereby will be relieved by water passing over through the connection 3, 4, 5 into the chamber 1, where it is caught and from whence it is returned to the circulating system through the pipe 6 as soon as conditions in the radiator become normal and the pump 9 .is again started. Vapor passing over into the tank 1 will escape therefrom through and be introduced into the intake of the carburetor where, unless in excessive amount, it will improve the mixture, increase the efiiciency of the engine, and obviate the dep- 5 osition of carbon in the cylinders. If,

and in extreme cases to stall the engine. By

this means I have provided an automatic indication of dangerous conditions in the engine which will prevent its being driven when in a too highly heated condition.

- Having thusdescrlbed my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. In combination with the circulating system and radiator of a water-cooled gas engine, an auxiliary chamber, a connection from the upper art of said radiator to the top of said auxil iary chamber, said radiator having no other over-flow pipe, and a connection from the bottom of said auxiliary chamber to a lower portion of said circulating system.

2. In combination with the cooling water circulating system of an internal combustion engine, a radiator closed save for the water feed and return pipes and a pipe leading from the top. of said radiator above the normal water line thereof, an auxiliary chamber into the top of which said last mentioned pipe discharges, a pipe leading from the bottom of said aum'liary chamber to a low point in said water circulating system, and a pipe leading from the upper part of said tank to discharge vapor therefrom.

3. In combination with the cooling water circulating system of an internal combustion engine, a radiator closed save for the water V in said water circulating system, and a pipe feed and return ipes and a ipe lewdlng' from the top of sa id radiator alibve the nor- 46 mal water line thereof, an auxiliary chamber into the top of which said last mentioned pipe discharges, a pipe leading from the bot tom of said auxiliary chamber to 'a low point leading from the upper part of said chamber to discharge vapor therefrom, said auxiliary chamber bemg closed. save for the three opening therein connecting with said pipes. 66 4. Ii -combination with the cooling water 7 circulating system of an internal combustion engine, a radiator closed save for the water feed and return pipes and a pipe leading from the top of said radiator above 60 the normal water line thereof, an auxiliary chamber into the top of which said last mentioned pipe discharges, a pipe leading from the bottom of said auxiliary chamber to a low point in said water circulatin sys tem, a check valve in said last mentioned pipe, and a pipe leading from the upper part of said chamber to discharge vapor therefrom.

5. In combination with the cooling water 70 circulating system of an internal combustion engine, a radiator closed save for the water feed and return pipes and a ipe leading from the top of said radiator a ove the normal water line thereof, an auxiliary chamber into the top of which said last mentioned pipe discharges, a pipe leading from the bottom of said auxiliary chamber to a low point in said water circulating system, and a ipe connection from the top of said auxiliary chamber to the intake of the carbureter of said engine.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

' JAMES 'r. McOORKLE. 

